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Alberto Aquilani remains part of Rafael Benitez’s plans at Anfield

Rafael Benítez has given Alberto Aquilani his full backing despite midfielder’s struggle to nail down regular starting place

Tony Barrett

March 8 2010, 2:39pm, The Times

Rafael Benítez has given Alberto Aquilani his full backing despite the midfield player’s struggle to nail down a regular starting place in the Liverpool side.

Aquilani’s first year in English football has been blighted by injury to such an extent that, almost eight months after a £17 million move from Roma, his agent is willing to concede that it could be next season before Liverpool see the best of the Italy international.

Benítez maintains that he has not lost faith in Aquilani and insists that the 25-year-old understands the situation, in which Liverpool’s search for peak form and their desperate need to secure a top-four place mean that the team cannot afford to carry a player who is facing a personal quest for improvement.

The…

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